Part 32

"Hermione? Hermione, where are you? Hermione?"

Hermione could barely register her name being called through the blackness of her eyelids. She could feel the grass swaying in the wind through her shirt. She was lying down on the ground, outside of the greenhouse. Here eyes were closed, but she didn't have enough energy to open them. She was tired. So tired.

"Hermione? Hermione, are you okay?"

Hermione wanted to reply, to say that yes, she was fine, until she realized two things. The first was that she couldn't. Her mouth wouldn't open. It wouldn't follow what she wanted. Second, she realized that she wasn't fine. Her bare feet felt like ice in the chill air and she could feel her still-damp cheeks, wet from her tears. Her mind seemed to weigh a ton. Her thoughts were slow and muddled, and was so tired...

"Hermione!"

Hermione heard the voice again, louder this time. She listened as the footsteps came closer, bending the lightly dewed grass.

Part 33

A finger touched her cheek, tracing the trail left by her tears.

"Oh, no. Hermione, I'm sorry. I'm so sorry Hermione. I'm so sorry."

His hand pulled her matted matted hair back from her face, and rested on his shouler. She heard him move slightly, a shuffling sound. Then she felt cloth being wrapped around her bare, freezing feet.

"His scarf " Hermione vaguely thought.

Another shuffle, and she felt his jacket being draped around her shoulders. So warm. Its so warm...

Slowly, she felt his arms crawl under her shoulders and knees, and was carefully, gently lifted up by strong, steady arms.

"It's okay, Hermione. I've got you. You're going to be fine. I' here, Hermione. I'm here."

Too tired to even nod, Hermione tried to huddle against his warm chest, his arms pulling her closer, as he began to walk toward the castle. Through the entry, the long corridors, and into the Common Room, he carried her, warm and secure.

"Hermione? Hermione, I'm can't go into the girls dormitory, so I'm going to lay you on the couch, okay? Your favorite one, right by the fire."

Gently, he placed her on the couch, her head propped up on a pillow as he unwapped her feet and placed them nearer to the fire. She could sense him looking at her, and she wanted to look at him, bt her eyes wouldn't open. Then, so soft and gentle she wasn't sure if it really happened, she felt his kiss, in the space between her eye and hairline. It was fleeting, like the beat of a butterfly's wing.

"You'll be okay now, Hermione. I'm here. I've got you.